Port sees third-busiest year ever Cargo numbers edge up with economy

Cargo container trade climbed 1.3 percent in 2014, indicating continued economic growth for the U.S. and bringing the Port its third-busiest year ever behind the peak years of 2006 and 2007, according to Port officials.
Last year’s overall volume rose to 6,820,806 TEUs, or 20-foot equivalent units. Imports increased 1.8 percent to 3,517,514 TEUs, exports declined 5.9 percent to 1,604,394 TEUs, while empties rose 8.2 percent to 1,698,898 TEUs. Empty containers are sent overseas to be loaded with cargo.
For December 2014 alone, the Port moved 567,237 TEUs through the harbor, a 2.6-percent decrease compared to December 2013. Imports dropped 5.1 percent to 276,516 TEUs. Exports fell 11.2 percent to 131,496 TEUs. Empties rose to 159,225 TEUs, an increase of 11.5 percent.
Port officials attributed the growth in 2014 overall to strong relationships with the shipping industry.
“This is the third straight year that imports have climbed,” said Jon Slangerup, Port of Long Beach chief executive. “We could not have achieved our third-busiest year in our history without the support from our longtime business partners.”
According to a Port of Long Beach press release, the port continues to invest long term and is now five years into a decade-long, $4 billion program to modernize its facilities.
For the latest monthly cargo numbers, visit polb.com/economics/stats/latest_teus.asp .